of the case, and lack of numbers, this is his testimony, "So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which follow me: none of us put off our clothes, save that every one put them off for washing."... What will not painstaking effort in the strength of the LORD effect for ourselves and for others! Men understand this, give credit to this, when they slight professions, and are not influenced by gifts. If this spirit be poured out on us of this land, we need not fear; unless this spirit be droop, and wither, and die.

ours, we must Oh that all of

every station may "awake out of sleep." Put not off the command to be up and be doing, by the question of evasion, "who is my neighbour?" That question is already answered; every one needing your help is your neighbour, and you need not to look far to find such. Ignorance, and want, and sorrow, and sin abound. The walls are indeed fallen, "let us arise and build." Let us build even as they did, "each one over against his own house, over against his own chamber." "Let us strive to keep under self, to "watch against the sin that doth most easily beset us." Let our own family, those under the same roof,

have our sympathy, our help. But let ús have at the same time an ear to hear "the trumpet," that from a distance calls us to our brethren's aid. The home duties must be "done," and the others "not left undone." Only let us cast away sloth, let us see the necessity for exertion, and by God's grace we shall not labour in vain. "So built we the wall," is the record of those who were engaged in that work of God at Jerusalem, "and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof, for the people had a mind to work."2

Brethren, we bring our review of Nehemiah's history to a close, but before we do so, let us notice that, which appears to have been the sustaining principle of this man of God. It was, if we mistake not, childlike confidence. He doubted not of God's grace now, he looked forward through the riches of that same grace, to the welcome of his God, hereafter. Any observant reader will, we think, mark the happy spirit of humble trust, and confidence in God that is interwoven with the record of his life. He was no proud Pharisee, who knew not the plague of his own heart, or separated himself from the vilest; in the con1 Nehemiah iv. 20. 2 Chap. iv. 6.

fession of his sins, we, not THEY only, is his acknowledgment. "I and my father's house, have sinned," not the children of Israel merely, is his mournful cry. Again, "Spare me according to the greatness of Thy mercy.' "I Still it is as one who rejoices in God as his reconciled Father, and believes in His forgiveness, that Nehemiah walked, not at every step doubting that Father's love, but delighting himself in God, and assured of His favour towards him. And there was the anticipation of the day of recompense, the looking forward to that better city, the New Jerusalem, when "they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." Hence his

repeated cry, "Remember me, O my God, for good."

Not as with a price in his hand, did he demand payment for his zeal.... He owned in each and every effort God's grace, and referred all from the thought conceived,* to the end accomplished," to Him. But he pressed on as one, who, like Moses, "esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, having respect to the

recompence of reward," a reward of grace laid up in heaven, assured by the promise of JEHOVAH to the trusting, expectant soul.

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And could Nehemiah enjoy present grace, and anticipate future glory, resting on a promised Messiah yet to come? Did he by this blessed principle of faith in a covenant-keeping God, deny self, oppose sin, help the oppressed, fearing nothing because God was with him? Oh let that same principle animate you. Christ hath died, yea, rather, is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also liveth to make intercession for Rest in God's mercy as testified to you in Him. Look for the hope laid up for you in heaven. Let sympathy, and prayer, and holy courage, and self-denying exertion, bear witness to the power of the principle within. Rejoicing in your God and Saviour, give yourselves to His service, and men shall glorify God in you, yea, as they behold your labour of love, they shall perceive, that, "this work was wrought of our God."

us."

Nehemiah vi. 16.

XX.

THE FIERY TRIAL.

DANIEL, chap. iii. verses 24, 25.

"Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."

"As thy days so shall thy strength be," was the blessing assured to Asher,'-My grace is sufficient for thee," was the word of encouragement to St. Paul,-promises, not confined to those to whom they were addressed; but, full of comfort in every age, to the heart appropriating them by faith. For they are but differing expressions of the same truth of God, "cast all your care on Him for He careth 2 2 Cor. xii. 9.

1 Deut. xxxiii. 25.